Let it be with grace
July 25, 2011 (Monday)
On one day during the weekend, reports of mass shootings in Norway, Grand Prairie, Texas, and Seattle, Washington. On the same day, a famous rock star died at age 27 from too many powerful drugs. The same news sources reported all sorts of anomalies in our society, making one wonder about our corporate sanity.
A disinterested alien from another world, looking in on ours, would surely wonder what we are thinking. Besides these obvious shortcomings in our cultures, we have tightly organized and well-planned systems of people and devices designed to kill ourselves off at unbelievable rates.
One would think that those of us who know the Savior would be doing our best to bring peace and harmony to a troubled world. Alas, such is not always the case. Many of us have daily conversations expressing our own bitterness and frustrations with lesser things. We seem to have lost touch with our priorities as citizens of the Kingdom of God. Our speech betrays us as we seem more interested in the things of this earth instead of spiritual matters.
Jesus showed us a better way. He talked about love and forgiveness. He practiced them, too, at the cost of his own life.
Some people have a little plaque in their homes, reminding themselves, “Christ is the Head of this house; the Unseen Guest at every meal; the Silent Listener to every conversation.”
Many of us need to remind ourselves that Christ is the silent listener to every conversation, not just those within our family and in our own home. Perhaps we should remind ourselves today, as we talk religion and politics and such, that Jesus hears our every word and takes note of our attitude. There are some things more important than politics.
“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:6 NASB).